Electric adjusting means for azimuth and elevation adjustment

ABSTRACT

An adjusting means for azimuth and elevation adjustment comprising a hollow support and a universal joint connected to the support and to the part to be adjusted. A reversible electric motor is mounted in the support having a shaft, a reduction gear and an electro-magnetically controlled coupling. Planetary transmission means are provided and means whereby the shaft may optionally be coupled with each of said transmission means by a reduction gear and an electro-magnetically controlled coupling. The transmission means are capable of acting on the universal joint to bring about a rotation around two different axes.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 185,250, filed Sept. 30,1971, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,857,631.

This application contains subject matter disclaimed in U.S. Pat. No.3,552,836 issued Jan. 5, 1971, entitled Electric Adjusting Means forAzimuth and Elevation Adjustment, portions of the subject matter of suchpatent being incorporated herein and made a part hereof.

This invention relates to an electric adjusting means for azimuth andelevation adjustment.

The adjusting means of the invention is more specially designed for arear view mirror to be mounted on a motor vehicle, said mirror beingadapted to be adjusted to any desired portion from the driver's seat.Said adjusting means, however, can also be used for the remoteadjustment of a mirror for other purposes, directional lamp, aerial orother source of radiation, or for a directing means.

Motor car mirrors are known, the position of which may be mechanicallyadjusted on a vertical and a horizontal axis by means of a cable whichat one end is provided with hand operated driving means, whereas theother end is connected to parts located in the mirror support and beingcapable of translating the movements of the cable into the desiredrotation of the mirror around two mutually perpendicular axes.

The disadvantage of mirrors of this kind is that, when the mirror ismounted on a fender, the cable connection on the inside of the fenderoften require much space and is easily soiled, whereas the length of thecable has to be adapted to the dimensions of the vehicle. In practice ithas been found that this leads to difficulties and considerableinstalling expenses.

An object of the invention is to provide an adjustment means wherein allmechanical parts are located in the fixed supporting parts of the mirroror the like, whereas the connection with the remote controlling parts isformed by an electric cable with three or four leads. Installing such amirror is as simple as with an ordinary one.

The adjusting means of the invention is characterized by a hollowmounting support connected to the part to be adjusted through auniversal joint, by a reversible electric motor mounted on said support,the shaft of which may be optionally coupled with one of twotransmission parts by means of a reduction gear and anelectro-magnetically controlled coupling, said transmission parts beingcapable of acting on the joint so as to bring about a rotation aroundtwo different axes such as either around an axis coaxial with orparallel to the axis of the support, or around an axis substantiallyperpendicular to former axis.

In particular this coupling may be designed as a clutch cam which,without relative rotation, is slidable in longitudinal direction of themotor shaft and adapted to be alternately put into engagement with twocoaxial pinions for coupling the latter to the shaft, said pinionsdriving the universal joint by means of considerably reductive planetarytransmissions, the electromagnet being coaxially positioned with respectto the motor and acting on an armature cooperating with the cam andresiliently urged into one of its coupling positions, which magnet maybring said armature and its other coupling position.

Preferably both planetary transmissions are coaxially arranged in twoplanes perpendicular to the motor axis.

Both pinions act as the sun wheel of the corresponding planetarytransmission, engage one part of a number of double stepped planetwheels disposed around the circumference of the sun wheel, the number ofteeth in both parts of the planet wheels being slightly different.

Each of both these parts of the planet wheels is in engagement with atoothed rim, so that in driving the pinion the planet wheels are rolledoff around one rim whereas the other is driven at a very slow speed withrespect to the first one. For the azimuth drive one rim of one planetarytransmission is fixedly connected to the mounting support, whereas theother is connected to a casing which may rotate the universal jointaround the axis of the support.

This casing is provided with a second toothed rim which forms part ofthe second planetary transmission, the second toothed rim of which isrotatable with respect to this casing and is provided with a dog or pinwhich may describe a circular orbit around the axis of the support,which dog or pin engages with a guide in the universal joint, said guideextending in a plane through the axis of rotation which is substantiallyperpendicular to the axis of the support, and according to which axisthe universal joint is coupled with the casing.

This universal joint may comprise a dome shaped hood to which theelement to be adjusted may be fixed parallel to the aforesaid axis ofrotation, which hood at least partially surrounds the planetarytransmission and the casing.

In the case of a rear view mirror, this mirror may be connected to theuniversal joint by means of a friction coupling in order to protect thisjoint and the transmission parts against impact loads.

A further object is to provide an adjusting means wherein the universaljoint comprises a coupling part which is rotatable around a fixed axisand is provided with a fork which is in engagement with a cam, said cambeing adapted to be driven by one of the transmission parts, the elementto be adjusted being pivotally connected to said coupling part around anaxis perpendicular to the fixed axis, and being coupled to the othertransmission part by means of a connecting rod, which is connected tosaid element in a point beyond said pivoting axis.

More specifically, the cam is connected to the first toothed rim and theconnecting bar is coupled with the pin of the second toothed rim.

It is also possible to make both planetary transmissions symmetricallywith respect to a plane perpendicular to their common axis, saidtransmissions driving the cam and a drive shaft connected to theconnecting rod respectively.

Moreover it is preferred that the fixed axis and the pivoting axisintersect each other substantially in one point.

In the case of a rear view mirror for a motor vehicle with a hoodencompassing said mirror, the plane through the outer rim of the hood isdisposed at a small distance before the point of intersection of theaxes.

In a preferred embodiment each of said transmission means comprises apulley, a first and a second string being laid loosely in a loop aroundsaid first and second pulley respectively, the extremities of saidstrings each being fixed in two opposite points of said mirror, the lineconnecting the fixing points of said first claim being perpendicular tothe line connecting the fixing points of the said second string, andguiding means for guiding said strings from said pulleys towards therespective fixing points of said mirror.

A further object of the invention is to provide strings attached to themirror by spring means for providing a tensioning force in the strings.The springs are mounted in tubular parts at the rear side of the mirror.

A further object of the invention is to provide compression springsseated against the shoulder portions of the tublar parts with thestrings each extending through a corresponding spring.

Finally the invention provides an electric switch for an adjustmentmeans according to the invention, which switch is designed in such amanner, that by moving elements thereof by means of the fingertips intwo mutually perpendicular directions corresponding adjustments of thepart to be adjusted may be effected.

The invention will be explained in detail by reference to the drawings,in which:

FIG. 1 shows an axial section through an adjusting means according tothe invention;

FIGS. 1a and 1b are partial illustrations of modifications, which omitthe internal drive gearing, while emphasizing the modification portions;

FIG. 2 is a section along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section of a motor-car mirror in a fixed hood withdrive means adapted thereto;

FIG. 4 is a coupling element for such a mirror;

FIG. 5 is a cross-section corresponding to FIG. 2 of the adjusting meansfor the mirror of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a preferred embodiment of the adjusting means for the mirrorof FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a switch for controlling the drive meansof a mirror according to the invention, in which the electricalconnections are schematically shown.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are a perspective view and a side view respectively of amodified embodiment of the assembly according to FIGS. 3 and 6; and

FIG. 10 is a rear view of a modification of the mirror according toFIGS. 8 and 9.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a modification of the device shown inFIG. 8, but with the cover on;

FIG. 12 is a top view of the device shown in FIG. 11 with the coverremoved;

FIG. 13 is a front elevational view of the device shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a rear view of the device shown in FIG. 12, with portionsbroken away to show the interior thereof;

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 14, but showing the mirror base platetilted with respect to the motor support;

FIG. 16 is a left end view of the device shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIG. 16, but showing the mirror base platetilted with respect to the motor support;

FIG. 18 is a right end view of the device shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 19 is a bottom view of the device shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 20 is a view along the line 20--20 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 21 is a view taken along the line 21--21 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 22 is a front elevational view of the universal joint connectingthe mirror base plate and the mirror support;

FIG. 23 is a left end view of the universal joint shown in FIG. 22; and

FIG. 24 is a view taken along the line 24--24 of FIG. 12.

The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms ofdescription, and not of limitation, and there is no intention, in theuse of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of thefeatures shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognizedthat various modifications are possible within the scope of theinvention claimed.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 1 comprises a fixed support 1, which may bevertically positioned. Inside this support an electric motor 2 isdisposed, the shaft 3 of which is coaxial with the support 1. On top ofthis motor 2 a magnet coil 4 is provided, inside which an armature 5 isslidable around the shaft 3, which armature is urged downwardly by aspring 6, and is connected to an output shaft 7, the latter beingslidable in axial direction, but being non-rotatably coupled with theshaft 3.

A first casing 8 is arranged around the magnet coil 4, which casing isconnected to the support 1. This casing is provided with an innertoothed rim 9 and a bottom wall 10. A first sun wheel 11, disposed abovethis bottom wall, is freely rotating on the shaft 7, but is coupled tothis shaft by a dog or catch 12 as the armature 5 is in its lowestposition.

Surrounding this sun wheel 11 at least two planet wheels 13 rest uponthe bottom 10, said wheels being provided with two superposed sets ofteeth with slightly different numbers of teeth. The lowermost set ofteeth is in engagement with the toothed rim 9, whereas one of both, andgenerally the upper one, is in engagement with the sun wheel 11.

On top of the casing 8 a second casing 14 is mounted, which surroundsthe first one and is rotatable with respect to it. The interior of thissecond casing is divided in two portions by a partition 15. Thispartition is supported upon the sun wheel 11 and the planet wheel 13.Below the partition 15 said casing is provided with a toothed rim 16wich is in engagement with the upper set of teeth of the planet wheels13. Now, as the sun wheel 11 is driven, the planet wheels roll off alongthe toothed rim 9. Since the teeth engaging the rim 16 have a slightlydiffferent number of teeth, the rim 16, in consequence thereof, will berotated with respect to the casing 14 at a speed and in a sensedepending on the difference in the number of teeth. As a matter of factthe number of teeth and the diameter of the toothed rims 9 and 16 willcorrespondingly differ.

Over the bottom 15 the casing 14 is provided with an interior toothedrim 17, which is in engagement with double planet wheels 18corresponding with the planet wheels 13. The planet wheels 18 engagewith a second sun wheel 19, which bears on the partition 15 and iscoupled with the shaft 7 as soon as the magnet coil 4 is energized. Thesecond set of teeth of the planet wheels 18 engages with a toothed rim20 of a disc 21 which rotatably fits into the casing 14, so that, indriving the sun wheel 19, said disc 21 is slowly rotated with respect tothe casing 14.

The casing 14 is provided with two journals 22 the axis of whichintersects the output shaft 7 perpendicularly. Surrounding thesejournals a spheroidal hollow hood 23 is rotatable, this hood beingprovided with a recess 24 through which the support 1 extends inwardly.This hood surrounds the casing 14 and all other interior parts.

On its upper side the hood 23 is provided with a traverse guide 25extending parallel to the axis of the journals 22. In this guide asliding block 26 is located into which a rounded dog or catch pawl 27 onthe upper surface of the disc 21, and disposed beyond its center, isfitted.

As the disc 21 rotates, the dot or catch pawl 27 describes a circularpath. As a result of the connection of the hood with the journals 22,this cap cannot rotate, but may, however, be tilted around the journalsfor following this movement of the catch or dog 27. In this manner anelevation adjustment of an element connected with the hood 23 may beobtained, the angular extension of which depends on the location of thedog or pawl 27 of the guide 25. As the casing 14 is rotated, the hood 23is rotated too, so that an azimuth adjustment is obtained.

With motor-car mirrors there is always the risk of passersby hitting themirror and disturbing its adjustment. Since the gear ratio obtained withplanetary transmission can amount to 3000:1 or more, and the internalfriction may be rather large, this transmission is self-braking when themirror is subjected to an impact. It may be useful, however, to connectthe mirror to the cap 23 by means of a frictional connection in order toprotect the transmission against impacts. This may also be obtained byusing a casing 14 comprising two coaxial parts which are coupled byfriction to one another.

FIGS. 1a and 1b show such types of friction couplings. In FIG. 1a thehood 23 of FIG. 1 is surrounded by a second relatively movable sphericalhood 23' to which the mirror or other part 23" to be adjusted isconnected. While a slight daylight clearance is shown between the parts23 and 23', it is understood that this is a drawing exaggeration andthat the normal friction between those hoods is sufficient for couplingthe outer hood to the inner one, but, in case of impacts, the outer hoodmay arbitrarily rotate around the inner one. According to FIG. 1b thecasing 14 of FIG. 1 is divided into two parts 14' and 14" with afriction contact allowing a mutual coaxial relative rotation underimpact loads.

In order to avoid this, the mirror 28 is hingedly connected to acoupling element 30 by means of rotation pins 31, shown in FIG. 4.Furthermore, this coupling is provided with mutually aligned apertures32, the axes of which are perpendicular to the axis of the pins 31. Pinssupported in bearings 33 extend into these apertures 32, said bearingsbeing fixedly connected to the hood 29.

Furthermore the coupling element 30 possesses two protrusions 34 forminga fork lying in a plane through the pins 31 and perpendicularly to theaxis of the apertures 32. The fork coacts with a cam 35, which, as shownin FIG. 5, is fixed to the second casing 14 of the driving assemblyshown in FIG. 1, which assembly then no longer comprises the outer hood23. The disc 21' of this assembly is modified in that the catch 27 hasbeen replaced by a crank pin 36 to which a coupling rod 37 is connected,which on the other hand, is hingedly fixed at 38 to the mirror 28.

In rotating the cam 35, the fork 34 follows around the axis of rotation33, so that the mirror 28 rotates around the same axis. At the disc 21'is rotated, the crank pin 36 drives the rod 37 so that the mirror isrotated around the axis of the pins 31. Preferably these mutuallyperpendicular axes of rotation intersect each other, their point ofintersection being positioned only slightly behind the plane through theouter rims of the hood 29, so that the rotating mirror will not contactthis hood.

FIG. 6 shows a preferred embodiment of the planetary gear system, whichis fully symmetrical, so that this system may be manufactured in asimpler way. This system is enclosed in a fixed casing 1' which, at thelocation of the cam 35, is provided with one or more apertures 39, intowhich the ends of the fork 34 fit. The gear system has, essentially thesame structure as the system of FIG. 1, and its elements ave beenindicated by the same reference numbers. Therefore it is not necessaryto give a detailed description of this system.

All casings and gears can be moulded from a plastic material. Thesupports 1 and 1' and the hoods 23 or 29 may be made from metal and/orplastic material. In a view of the large gear ratio, a very weak motormay be used, which preferably should be reversible by changing thepolarity of the feeding lines. For the clutch control an additionedconnection having one or two leads is sufficient.

FIG. 7 shows a switch specially designed for a mirror according to theinvention. This switch comprises a bottom part 39 with four extensions40 and a central hole 41. In this hole fits a threaded stud 42 with acentral bore, which stud may be fixed in a suitable location of theinstrument panel of a car by means of a nut. Four lugs 43 areresiliently connected with said stud 42, which stud and lugs preferablyform a unit made from a suitable plastic. In this unit three contactpins 44 are embedded, which are each connected to a separate lead 45.

In the space between the lugs 43 and the extensions 40 (the latterfitting between these lugs) a cap 46 is resiliently clamped, which capis provided with two contact strips 47 and 48, each being connected toanother lead 49. In FIG. 7 the position of the pins 44 in respect ofthese strips is indicated with phantom lines.

By gripping two opposed lugs 43 between two fingers, the cap 46 may bemoved in two perpendicular directions. The leads 49 are connected to asource of direct current 50, and the motor 2 and the magnet coil 4 areconnected to the pins 44 as indicated by dash lines.

When moving the cap 46 upward or downward as seen in FIG. 7, the motor 2may be connected to the battery leads 49 in either one of the polaritiesthereof by contacting the corresponding pins 44 with either one of thestrips 47 and 48, in order to energize this motor in the correspondingsense. The third pin 44 is, then, insulated from the contact strips 47and 48 insulating strips 41 and 52. When moving the cap to the left orright, the same motor connections will be made, but, at the same time,the magnet 4 will be energized by contacting the third pin 44 with thestrip 47. In this manner the mirror may be adjusted in two perpendiculardirections and in the proper sense by movements of the finger tips whichadequately correspond with the desired adjustment.

The adjusting means desdribed has the advantage that all parts of it maybe positioned in a small space. Especially the operative portions of thesun wheels 11 and 19 are adjacent to the partition 15, so that thestroke of the coupling cam 12 may be short. Although a simple reducingtransmission is also possible wherein the change-over takes place at theslowly rotating side, the specified change-over at the fast side shouldbe preferred, since, then, the coupling cam 12 can engage very quickly.

FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 show a preferred embodiment of the complete mirrorassembly comprising the planetary gear system of FIG. 6, but using meansfor driving the mirror differing from those according to FIGS. 3 and 6.

In FIG. 8 the motor 2 is coupled to a double planetary gear according toFIG. 6, having a first end disc 21 and a second end disc 35', the lattercorresponding to the cam 35 of FIG. 6. Both ends are provided with apulley 51 and 52 respectively, around which strings 53 and 54respectively are laid in a double loop, which strings are not fixed tosaid pulleys.

Motor 2 and support 1 of the planetary gear, as well as the magnet coil4, which is in this case a separate unit, are mounted in a frame 55.

String 53 is, at one side, directed perpendicularly to said frame 55 andthrough an opening of a tubular rim part of the mirror 28, in which partsaid string is fixed by means of a helical spring 57 as indicated inphantom lines.

At the other side string 53 is guided towards the opposite side of saidframe by means of guiding rolls 58, 59, 60 and 61 rotatably mounted onframe 55, and then directed towards the mirror, at which side the end ofsaid frame is fixed to the mirror in a corresponding tubular rim part56' as indicated in FIG. 9.

String 54 is directed at both sides towards the mirror by means ofguiding rolls 62 and 63 rotatably mounted on frame 55, and is fixed atboth ends in tubular rim parts, only one of which is indicated at 64, bymeans of springs, one of which is shown in phantom lines at 65.

The armature of magnet coil 4 is coupled by means of a fork 66 to themotor shaft 7, in order to engage the coupling dog with one of the sunwheels 11 or 19 as desired.

The mirror is coupled to frame 55 by means of a ball joint 67 or thelike, so that a universal movement of said mirror is possible.

In operation, one of the discs 21 or 35' is driven by the motor 2,dependent on whether the magnet coil 4 is energized or not. When disc 21is rotated in one sense, string 53, which is kept tensioned by thespring 57, is accordingly wound up at one side and wound off at theother side as a result of the friction with the pulley 51, so that themirror will be tilted in a corresponding sense around an axisperpendicular to the motor axis.

When, on the other hand, disc 35' is rotated, string 54 will be wound upat one side and wound off at the other side, so that the mirror istilted around an axis parallel to the motor axis.

As soon as the end of the allowed stroke of the mirror is reached, thepulleys 51 or 52, as the case may be, may rotate freely because of thefriction with said strings, and the strings loops will slip along thesurface of the respective pulleys. This is an important improvement inrespect of the system of FIGS. 3 and 6, in which, when the disc 21 orthe cam 35 have rotated over half a revolution, the movement of themirror is reversed, so that the given position of the switch accordingto FIG. 7 is no longer adequately related to the sense of movement. Inthe embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 9, however, no reversal of the movementcan take place without reversing the sense of rotation of the motor 2.Another advantage is that the mechanism will not be damaged when themirror is moved by hand or is subjected to other external forces, since,then, the strings will also slip along the pulleys.

FIG. 10 shows a plan view of the rear side of the mirror according toFIGS. 8 and 9, but with a different arrangement of the tubular parts 56and 64, which, now, are symmetrically arranged in the form of a lozenge.

The springs 57 and 65 are preferably compressing springs, as shown,seated near the opening of the corresponding tubular part, and eachstring is fixed at the free end of the corresponding spring, so that nohooks or other attaching means are needed, which simplifies the mountingof said springs in the tubular parts. It is also possible to attach oneend of each string directly to the mirror, since in many cases onespring is sufficient for tensioning each string.

The device shown in FIGS. 11-24 is similar to the device shown in FIGS.8 and 9, but with some modifications such as, for example, the routingor path of the tensioned strings throughout the structure, now to bedescribed.

In FIGS. 8 and 9, and in FIGS. 11-24, like parts are identified withlike numbers.

In FIGS. 11-24 there is shown the aforedescribed electric motor 2, andthe solenoid 4, together with the reversible transmission 69, all havinga cover 68.

Also in FIGS. 11-24, one tensioned string 70 (FIG. 16) is secured at oneend to the mirror base plate 28 at the point 71 thence follows a path upthrough the frame or plate 55 and around the transmission pulley 51,thence around the corner pulley 72 (FIG. 12), thence around the cornerpulley 73, thence down through the plate 55, and is secured to the coilspring 74 (FIG. 19) in the mirror base plate 28 to keep such stringunder tension.

The other tensioned string 80 (FIG. 12) is secured at one end to themirror base plate 28 at the point 81 (FIG. 13), thence follows a path upthrough the frame or plate 55, thence around the corner pulley 84 (FIG.12), thence around the transmission pulley 52, thence around the cornerpulley 85, thence down through the plate 55, and is secured to the coilspring 86.

Thus, the invention provides an adjusting device for effecting limiteduniversal adjustment of a part 28 to be adjusted including a firstsupporting member 55, a second supporting member 28 spaced from thefirst member, universal joint means 90 connecting the members effectinglimited universal movement therebetween, and actuating means includingthe motor 2, the transmission 69, the solenoid 14, and all associatedparts disposed on the first member 55 including tensioned elongatedflexible connecting means 70, 80 coacting with said second member 28 toeffect universal movement of such second member with respect to thefirst member. The second supporting member in the preferred form is anautomobile fender rear view mirror supporting plate 28.

The flexible connecting means includes a first tensioned string 70operatively connected to the second member 28 to control azimuthadjustment thereof, and a second tensioned string 80 operativelyconnected to the second member 28 to control elevation adjustmentthereof.

The actuating means includes a reversible drive means in the form of themotor 2, means 4, 66 for reversing the drive means such as an electricmotor reversing switch, a transmission 69 operatively connected to thedrive means 2, said transmission having first and second rotatableoutput drives 51, 52, and gear shift means 4, 66, for shifting thetransmission to either the first or the second output drive, the firsttensioned string 70 being connected to the first output drive 51, andthe second tensioned string 80 being connected to the second outputdrive 52, whereby selection of the first output drive 51 controlsazimuth adjustment of the second member 28 in one direction and reversalof the drive means 2 with such first output drive 51 selection controlsazimuth adjustment of the second member 28 in an opposite direction; andwhereby selection of the second output drive 52 controls elevationadjustment of the second member 28 in one direction and reversal of thedrive means 2 with such second output drive 52 selection controlselevation adjustment of the second member 28 in an opposing direction.

The reversible drive means is a direct current electric motor 2 having ashaft 93. Means for actuating the motor is a suitable source of electriccurrent attached to the motor leads 94, 95. An electric reversing switch(not shown in FIGS. 11-24) is connected to the motor for reversing thesame.

The gear shift means includes a solenoid 4, and said transmissionincludes a coupling dog 66 operatively connected with the transmissionfor selecting either the first or said second output drives 51, 52. Aconnecting fork 97 operatively connects the solenoid to the couplingdog, whereby selective actuation of the solenoid selectively actuatesthe dog.

The transmission 69 includes two planetary transmission means eachhaving a sun pinion wheel and planet wheels meshing with said sun wheel,the sun wheels of the planetary transmission means being disposedcoaxially with said motor axis. An electromagnetically controlledcoupling is provided whereby the shaft may optionally be coupled withone of the two pinion sun wheels by the electro-magnetically controlledcoupling, the transmission means being capable of acting on saiduniversal joint to bring about a rotation around two different axes. Thecoupling includes the clutch dog 60 slidable in longitudinal directionof the motor shaft 93 without relative rotation and adapted to bealternately put into engagement with the sun pinions, all asaforedescribed in the FIG. 8 structure.

In the preferred form, the second member is a rectangular planar plate28 with the ends of the first tensioned string 70 being operativelyconnected to the ends of the plate, and the ends of the second tensionedstring 80 being connected to the sides of the plate. Resilient means aredisposed between and connected to at least one end of each of saidstrings and the plate, said resilient means including the compressedcoiled springs 74 and 86. The output drives include rotatable drivepulleys 51, 52 and the respective strings 70, 80, are operatively woundaround said pulleys. The outer surface of said pulleys in contact withthe strings have a predetermined coefficient of friction enabling thestrings to slip on the pulleys when the strings are subjected to amaximum preselected tension occurring when an azimuth or elevationadjustment limit of the second member 28 is reached.

Thus, the invention provides remote control adjustment of an automobilefender mounted rear view mirror, for example. Such adjustment providescomplete azimuth and elevation adjustments or any combination thereof.

It will be obvious that the invention can be applied in all such caseswhere an adjustment means with remote control and of very restricteddimensions is required, e.g. in directing means, optical instruments,observation or control apparatus for radioactive spaces and the like.

What is claimed is:
 1. An adjusting device for effecting limiteduniversal adjustment of a part to be adjusted comprising; a firstsupporting member; a second supporting member spaced from the firstmember; universal joint means connecting said members effecting limiteduniversal movement therebetween; and actuating means disposed on thefirst member including tensioned elongated flexible connecting meanscoacting with said second member to effect universal movement of suchsecond member with respect to the first member.
 2. The structure ofclaim 1 wherein said second supporting member is an automobile fenderrear view mirror supporting plate.
 3. The structure of claim 1 whereinsaid flexible connecting means includes; a first tensioned stringoperatively connected to the second member to control azimuth adjustmentthereof; and a second tensioned string operatively connected to thesecond member to control elevation adjustment thereof.
 4. The structureof claim 3 wherein said actuating means includes; reversible drivemeans; means for reversing the drive means; a transmission operativelyconnected to the drive means; said transmission having first and secondrotatable output drives; and gear shift means for shifting thetransmission to either the first or the second output drive; the firsttensioned string being connected to the first output drive, and thesecond tensioned string being connected to the second output drive;whereby selection of the first output drive controls azimuth adjustmentof the second member in one direction and reversal of the drive meanswith such first output drive selection controls azimuth adjustment ofthe second member in an opposite direction; and whereby selection of thesecond output drive controls elevation adjustment of the second memberin one direction and reversal of the drive means with such second outputdrive selection controls elevation adjustment of the second member in anopposing direction.
 5. The structure of claim 4 wherein said reversibledrive means is a direct current electric motor having a shaft, means foractuating the motor, and further including an electric reversing switchconnected to the motor for reversing the same.
 6. The structure of claim4 wherein said gear shift means includes a solenoid, said transmissionincluding a coupling dog operatively connected with the transmission forselecting either said first or said second output drives, a connectingfork operatively connected to the solenoid and to the coupling dog,whereby selective actuation of the solenoid selectively actuates saiddog.
 7. The structure of claim 5 wherein said transmission includes twoplanetary transmission means each having a sun pinion wheel and planetwheels meshing with said sun wheel, the sun wheels of said planetarytransmission means being disposed coaxially with said motor axis, anelectromagnetically controlled coupling whereby said shaft mayoptionally be coupled with one of said two pinion sun wheels by saidelectro-magnetically controlled coupling, said transmission means beingcapable of acting on said universal joint to bring about a rotationaround two different axes.
 8. The structure of claim 3 wherein saidsecond member is a rectangular planar plate with the ends of the firsttensioned string being operatively connected to the ends of the plate,and the ends of the second tensioned string being connected to the sidesof the plate.
 9. The structure of claim 8 and further includingresilient means disposed between and connected to at least one end ofeach of said strings and the plate.
 10. The structure of claim 9 whereinsaid resilient means includes compressed coiled springs.
 11. Thestructure of claim 4 wherein said output drives include rotatable drivepulleys, and the respective strings are operatively wound around saidpulleys, the outer surface of said pulleys in contact with the stringshaving a coefficient of friction enabling the strings to slip on thepulleys when the strings are subjected to a maximum preselected tensionoccurring when an azimuth or elevation adjustment limit of the secondmember is reached.
 12. The structure of claim 7, wherein said couplingcomprises a clutch dog slidable in longitudinal direction of said shaftwithout relative rotation and adapted to be alternately put intoengagement with said sun pinions.
 13. An adjusting device for effectinglimited universal adjustment of a member to be adjusted with respect toanother member comprising; a first supporting member; a secondsupporting mirror member spaced from the first member; universal jointmeans connecting said members effecting limited universal movementtherebetween; and actuating means disposed on the first member includingtensioned elongated flexible connecting means coacting with said secondmirror member to effect universal movement of such second mirror memberwith respect to the first member.